SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 15:1.    Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
 
Oh Friends, this funeral business is something else yes! There are so many details to attend to, much more than in birth. And believe me, none of the things you need to do come cheaply. Everyone wants his or her share of the pie, especially the government. No wonder so many families have money problems, in addition to their grief, after burying a LOVED one! Even the cheapest burial available is too much for many families to afford. But I guess that’s the way our society is set up, so we just have to do it as best we can. Anyway, the worst is over now, most of the important preparations have been made and hopefully I can now get back to writing my Bit at an earlier hour. (smile) Sadly though, now there’s only one thing I must do everyday; that’s write the Bit. No longer will I be reading prayers for my mother over the phone. And believe me, it does seem as though a part of me is missing, because I read for her every day. And if she figured I was taking too long to call, she would call and say something like: ‘Randolph. This is your mother.’ That would be all, and I’d know what she wanted. But all good things must end sometime, they say, and we just have to move on. So in concert with that opinion, let’s consider our Bit; interesting words from Bruh David. ‘Lord, who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?’ Basically, the psalm’s about qualifications for service in the Lord’s sanctuary. And here are the qualifications Bruh David thinks are required for such service: ‘He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue…’ (Ps.15:2-3a) That means people with personal purity, which all believers are supposed to have. And the qualifications continue: ‘nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up (receives) a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.’ (Ps.15:3a-5) Oh Friends, that describes interpersonal integrity, which all of us ought to have. That therefore boils down the basic qualifications to work in the Lord’s house as also the basic qualifications for being a true believer. We need those qualifications to do any work whatsoever for our God. But since we’re human, and thus naturally sinful, we won’t always come up to such lofty heights of Christian maturity. However, one of our mandates is also to help those weaker than us. Hear Bruh Paul explain it to the Galatians: ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken (caught) in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.’ (Gal.6:1-2) Yes Friends, to a certain extent we are to be our brother’s keeper, but with meekness and humility, lest we get too prideful and fall into the same trap. That’s the basis of our Christian faith; helping, sharing, exhorting, encouraging and considering each other’s plight with a humble heart. Therefore, as believers, our aim, our goal should be to get qualified enough to work in the Lord’s sanctuary, even if we never actually work there. As Bruh David says in Psalm 24: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (to an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ (Ps.24:3-5) Oh my people, currently there are way too few of us who can qualify to work in God’s sanctuary, or ascend to His holy hill, for evil and the enemy have become too much a part of our daily, earthly lives. Please, let’s try and change that nuh, let’s rise higher, to heights of excellence, as Jesus desires, and aspire to make those attributes our life’s goal, so that we can glorify God and thus further His kingdom. That would be so pleasing to our wonderful God. Much LOVE!… a believer’s duty…is to be the best that he/she can be…